US4993974A - Electrical connector element for orbital stations - Google Patents

Electrical connector element for orbital stations Download PDF

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Publication number
US4993974A
US4993974A US07/516,208 US51620890A US4993974A US 4993974 A US4993974 A US 4993974A US 51620890 A US51620890 A US 51620890A US 4993974 A US4993974 A US 4993974A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
junction
contact elements
junction element
contact
wiring
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US07/516,208
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English (en)
Inventor
Manfred Baune
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Erno Raumfahrttechnik GmbH
Original Assignee
Erno Raumfahrttechnik GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Erno Raumfahrttechnik GmbH filed Critical Erno Raumfahrttechnik GmbH
Assigned to ERNO RAUMFAHTTECHNIK GMBH reassignment ERNO RAUMFAHTTECHNIK GMBH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: BAUNE, MANFRED
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US4993974A publication Critical patent/US4993974A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R31/00—Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart
    • H01R31/06—Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
    • B64G99/00—Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R24/00—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure
    • H01R24/86—Parallel contacts arranged about a common axis

Definitions

  • the present invention is directed to an interconnecting system for establishing an electrically conducting junction between a wiring system arranged at a first, outer structure and an associated wiring system arranged at a second inner structure, especially for manned orbital stations, where the inner structure is fastened in the outer structure so as to be detachable and replaceable.
  • experimentation carriers So as to be able to perform as large a quantity of experiments as possible independently of each other in an orbital station under cosmic state conditions, wherein the individual experiments are to begin and end at different times, so-called experimentation carriers have been developed which are also designated as orbital replaceable units (ORU).
  • ORU orbital replaceable units
  • the orbital station itself is organized in "ORUs" so that the add-on components can also be exchanged if they fail.
  • ORUs The orbital station itself is organized in "ORUs" so that the add-on components can also be exchanged if they fail.
  • interconnection or interface points are to be accessible from the external side of the primary structure and are to be easily replaceable in case of possible damage.
  • the principal object of the present invention is to provide a junction system meeting these requirements, which is easy to handle and has a high degree of reliability.
  • the junction system comprises sets of contact elements, preferably resilient, provided in accessible locations on both the orbital station and experimentation carriers, cooperating with a removable and replaceable junction-forming member configured when installed to engage and electrically interconnect contact element sets.
  • both sets of contacts are arranged circumferentially around aligned bores in both the orbital station and the experimentation carriers.
  • the junction element comprises a generally rod-shaped member which when inserted so as to extend into both bores functions to interconnect the respective contact element sets.
  • the contact elements are arranged on the surface of the junction element so as to be angularly spaced by preset intervals, and the junction element is structured to fit into the bores in fixed angular positions, in each of which the desired electrical interconnections are achieved.
  • the junction element can be withdrawn, rotated, and replaced to reestablish connections with a fresh set of contacts.
  • the sole FIGURE shows a vertical section through the interconnection region between the structure 1 of an orbital station and a carrier unit 2 for receiving an experimentation module, wherein the carrier unit 2 is detachably connected with the structure 1 of the orbital station.
  • the structure 1 of the orbital station is provided with a cylindrical throughbore, where an also cylindrical receiving bushing 3 is arranged.
  • a cylindrical recess 4 is provided in the carrier unit 2 coaxially with the receiving bushing 3 with a dead end or blind bore 5 having a smaller diameter following upon said cylindrical recess 4.
  • These supply lines 8 or 9 are laid upon the inner wall of structure 1, wherein each of the required lines is laid as multiple lines so as to increase the redundance of the arrangement.
  • the individual paths of a redundant interconnection line 8, 9 are arranged in different regions of the primary structure 1 and are connected with different contact elements or members of the first set which are arranged on the inner side of the receiving bushing 3 so as to be offset against each other.
  • junction element 10 is inserted into the cylindrical receptacle formed by the receiving bushing 3, the recess 4 and the dead end bore 5, which junction element comprises a third set of contact elements 12, 13 on the outer face of a prism, in the present case cylindrically designed, partial region 11, which contact elements of the third set are structured and arranged to be identical to the first set of contact elements 6 and 7 in their receiving bushing 3.
  • the partial region 11 of the junction element 10 consists herein of an electrically nonconducting material.
  • the contact elements 6 and 12 or 7 and 13 are actually in electrically conducting contact with each other. They are shown slightly spaced for clarity in the drawing.
  • the third set of contact elements 12 and 13 are in direct electrical connection by means of junction bridges 14 and 15 with an additional fourth set of contact elements 16, 17 which, in the depicted working position of the junction element 10, lie in the region of the recess 4 of the experimentation module 2. There they are in an electrically conducting connection with a second set of contact elements 18 and 19 which are retained in the recess 4 and are also configured as resilient tongues just as the contact elements 6, 7, 12, 13 and 16, 17. Finally an electrical connection is established by means of the contact elements 18 and 19 between the supply lines 8 and 9 and supply lines 20 and 21 of a second wiring system which are laid in the carrier unit 2.
  • junction elements 10 in its working position shown in the FIGURE is achieved on the one hand by a shaft extension 22 introduced into the dead end bore 5 and on the other hand by means of a terminating or end plate 23 which rests at the outer surface of the external structure 1 and is secured there by means of a pivotable latch 24, in the manner, for example, in which a ship's ports or bulkheads are secured.
  • a handle 25 is provided on the outer surface of the termination plate 23, which handle serves for manipulating the junction element 10.
  • the quantity of the contact elements 12 and 16 or 13 and 17 arranged at or on the junction element 10 and the connecting bridges 14 or 15 are an integral multiple of the quantity of the contact elements 6 and 7 or 18 and 19 arranged in the receiving bushing 3 as well as in the recess 4. That is, the same number or, for instance, two or three times that number.
  • the fourth set of contact units provided additionally at the junction elements 10 are arranged to be respectively circumferentially offset through a fixed angular amount with respect to the other contact units, the possibility of unlatching the junction element 10 in the case of a defect in one of these contact units, to remove same from the receptacles and to subsequently reinsert it into the receptacles turned through this same angular amount is provided.
  • Guide profiles or ridges 26 provided in the longitudinal direction in the dead end bore 5 cooperate with matching longitudinal grooves 27 in the shaft 22 and assure that defined or preset rotary angular positions can be achieved.
  • the cylindrical geometry of the system lends itself to this function, taking advantage of the contact element and supply line redundancy to assure continued operation even when defects arise.
  • the junction element 10 can be easily operated by means of the handle 25 by crew members of the orbital station or externally by a suitable manipulator.
  • the electrical connection between the first and second structures 1, 2 can be quickly broken and again reestablished when replacing the carrier unit 2.
  • the junction element 10 can be easily replaced in case of extensive damage thereto.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
US07/516,208 1989-05-02 1990-04-30 Electrical connector element for orbital stations Expired - Fee Related US4993974A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3914511 1989-05-02
DE3914511A DE3914511C1 (enExample) 1989-05-02 1989-05-02

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4993974A true US4993974A (en) 1991-02-19

Family

ID=6379946

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US07/516,208 Expired - Fee Related US4993974A (en) 1989-05-02 1990-04-30 Electrical connector element for orbital stations

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US4993974A (enExample)
DE (1) DE3914511C1 (enExample)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5196280A (en) * 1991-07-08 1993-03-23 Motorola, Inc. Adhesive pad with a shrinkable layer
WO2000001874A1 (de) * 1998-07-06 2000-01-13 Inter Control Hermann Köhler Elektrik GmbH & Co. KG Mehrpolige elektrische steckverbindung

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111547277B (zh) * 2020-05-25 2021-05-28 中国科学院空间应用工程与技术中心 具备限位功能的自动锁紧释放机构以及锁紧释放操作方法

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3409860A (en) * 1966-05-11 1968-11-05 United Carr Inc Slidable test jack
US4850899A (en) * 1988-06-20 1989-07-25 Maynard Scott D Connector for interfacing a disk drive with a computer

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1714885U (de) * 1954-10-21 1956-01-12 Siemens Ag Verbindungsstecker fuer kreuzschienenverteiler.

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3409860A (en) * 1966-05-11 1968-11-05 United Carr Inc Slidable test jack
US4850899A (en) * 1988-06-20 1989-07-25 Maynard Scott D Connector for interfacing a disk drive with a computer

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5196280A (en) * 1991-07-08 1993-03-23 Motorola, Inc. Adhesive pad with a shrinkable layer
WO2000001874A1 (de) * 1998-07-06 2000-01-13 Inter Control Hermann Köhler Elektrik GmbH & Co. KG Mehrpolige elektrische steckverbindung

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3914511C1 (enExample) 1990-10-11

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Owner name: ERNO RAUMFAHTTECHNIK GMBH, GERMANY

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Effective date: 20030219

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Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362